New Bomb Scare at S.C. Plantation a False Alarm

Feb. 9, 2006
Historic plantation has second bomb scare in two weeks; a claim of C-4

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was called to an empty plantation house for the second time in two weeks to investigate possible explosives left on the property.

A Georgetown County Sheriff's Office incident report said deputies were called Saturday afternoon to Greenfield Plantation to investigate a suspicious package.

A security guard for the property said he saw a brown box on the front porch of the home, which is under renovation.

Mike Todd, who is renovating the house, said the box did not belong there.

Federal officials who came to the scene said the box contained acids used for renovating the house.

No injuries were reported from the incident.

On Jan. 29, the ATF found explosive materials at the same home after an informant called the Sheriff's Office and reported seeing a length of thick yellow cord in the kitchen, according to an incident report.

The informant also said there was a box that resembled a C-4 container in the house, the report said.

C-4 is a putty-type material that can be used to make bombs.

Neil Johnson, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office, said the ATF collected "some sort of wires" from the house.

When any explosive material is found, the item is destroyed, said Earl Woodham, spokesman for the ATF field office in Charlotte, N.C.

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